Buttonhole cutting and stitching machine.



PATBNTED AUG. 16, 1904.

E. B. ALLEN. BUTTONHOLE CUTTING AND STITGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 21, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

iro MODEL.

5140mm (M MHMJ No. 767,539. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

' v E. B. ALLEN.

BUTTONHOLE CUTTING AND STITGHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED APR. 21, 1904. N0 MODEL. I 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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33713 GHQ lmumfmfillilllli llu HI IIIIIIIIIIIJIIIIIIIHIIHIH PATENTEDAUG. 16, 1904.

I E. B. ALLEN. BUTTONHOLE CUTTING AND STITGHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 111311.21, 1904.

s BHEHTS-SHEET a.

NO MODEL.

A 1 MAQNMWLM/W UNITED STATES Patented August 16, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD B. ALLEN, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGERMANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BUTTONHOLE CUTTING AND STITCHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,539, dated August16, 1904.

Application filed April2l,l904. Serial No. 204,159. (NomodelJingMachines, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class-of buttonholecutting andstitching machines forming the subject of the United StatesPatent No. 7 38,591, granted to me Sep-' tember 8, 1903, and moreparticularly to a modification of the specific cutting mechanism of suchmachine forming the subject of the United States Patent No. 743,213,granted to me November 3, 1903.

The invention has for its primary object to adapt machines of this classfor cutting the buttonhole-slit prior to the stitching operation,whereby the cut edge of the material is wholly covered by the overseamstitched along its edges instead of presenting the somewhat rough orragged edge which has been produced heretofore in certain classes ofwork by cutting the buttonhole-slit subsequent to the stitchingoperation.

The present improvement consists partly in a buttonhole-stitchingmachine provided with a suitable stop-motion device and cuttingmechanism comprising a continuously-operating actuator, a cutting-knife,and connections between said actuator and said knife including anintermittently-acting coupling operatively connected with a member ofthe stop-motion device for effecting the cutting action.

The invention further includes a presserplate of special form auxiliaryto the usual work-clamp and closely embracing the knife and needle pathsfor maintaining the cut material in contact with the throat-plate toprevent its displacement by friction with the needle whenv the latterrises or by the pull of the-needle-thread in the setting-of thestitches.

The present invention will be understood by reference to the drawingsannexed, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a buttonhole cutting andstitching machine provided with my present improvements. Figs. 2, 3, and4: are such sectionalelevations of the rear end of the machine, showingthe cutter-actuating devices in different positions; and Fig. 5 is antion, also upon an enlarged scale, of the forward portion of thework-clamp. Fig. 12 is e a detail view showing the means forautomatically actuating the stop-motion mechanism.

The machine in which I have embodied the present improvements isconstructed with the usual bed-plate 1 with bracket-arm 2, in theforward end of which is mounted the needlebar 3, whose needle 4 operatesin conjunction with the shuttle 5 and the knife-bar 6, carrying theknife 7 and provided with a lug 8, connected by the link 9 with theforward end of a rock-lever 10, whose rear end is connected, by means ofa stud 11, with the link 12, which is pivotally connected in turn withthe forward end of the tilting lever 13, having at its rear end theangular slot 14, entered by a roller-stud 15, carried by an arm 16,projecting from the collar 17, secured by the clampscrew 18 adjustablyupon the vertically-movable plunger-rod 19, which is carried by thevibrating stop-lever 20, pivoted to the bracketarm upon the centerscrews 21. The plunger 26 in opposition to the spring 27 and locked insuch position by means of the locking-lever 28, of which one end isnormally maintained in the notch 29 of said rod by means of the spring30, and the other end lies in the path of the tripping-lug 31 upon thefeed-cam '32, which acts to periodically tilt the lever 28 to releasethe rod 26 and permit the stop-motion lever to assume its operativeposition for engagement of the plunger 19 with the cam 23. Thedepression of the plunger 19 in the position indicated in Figs. 1, 2,and 5 evidently has no effect upon the cutter-actuating lever 13, theroller-stud 15 moving idly in the vertical portion of the angular slotin such lever.

The rear end portion of the main shaft 24 is shown provided with a crank33, connected, by means of the pitman 34 and pin 35, with a block 36,fitted to a guideway 37 formed in the rear-wall of the bracket-arm forthepur pose, such block, constituting the cutter-actuator, receivingcontinuously a vertical reciprocatory motion throughout the cycle of themachine.

A coupling device is provided for temporarily connecting thespring-pressed plunger 19 with the continuously-reciprocating actuator36, one member of which consists of a coupling-tooth 38, formed upon thecollar 17, and the othermember consists of a latch-lever 39, pivoted at40 to a lug 41 upon the actuator 36 and formed on its adjacent side witha shoulder 42 for engagement with said coupling-tooth. The rear edge ofthe latch-lever 39 is notched or cut away below said shoulder andterminates in a rearwardlyprojecting finger 43. A spring 44, interposedbetween the actuator 36 and lever 39, operates to press the latternormally backward toward the plunger 19, the forward projection 45serving, in conjunction with the upper edge of the actuator, as a stopto limit the movement of the latch-lever.

When the treadle is operated to depress the rod 26 for shifting thevibrating lever 20 to disengage the plunger 19 from its cam 23 andsimultaneously shift the belt for starting the machine, the lateralthrow of the plunger.

brings the coupling-tooth 38 into the normal path of movement of theshoulder 42, the coupling of which members causes the depression of theplunger, and hence the engagement of the roller-stud 15 with the lateralportion of the angular slot 14 in the operating-lever 13 in oppositionto the spring 46 to depress the cutter, the pivoted latch 47 being atsuch time in operative relation with the pin 11. As the actuator risesafter its initial descent the latch-lever 39 isthrown backward todisengage the members 38 and 39 by the means now to be described.

Upon the bracket-arm 2 below the latchlever 39 is mounted, by means of afixed screw-stud 49, a throw-out lever 50, of which the outer operativeend portion is adapted to engage a lateral stud 48' upon one side of thelatch-lever 39 and is formed'with a flat face adjacent to the saidlatch-lever and with an inner inclined cam-shaped edge. The hub 51 ofthis lever is provided with a lateral arm 52, which is normally drawndown by means of aspring 53 for pressing the throw-out lever toward thelatch-lever 39, but which lateral arm 52 is adapted for engagement witha finger 54, projecting from the adjacent side of the Vibratingstop-lever 20, whereby the throw of the lever 20 into operative positionfor stopping the machine causes its finger 54 to engage the under sideof the arm 52, and thereby shift the throw-out lever 50 wholly out ofengagement with the latch-lever 39 and lateral stud 48, carried thereby.

When the machine is at rest, the various parts of the stop-motion andcutter-actuating mechanisms are in the positions illustrated in Figs. 1,2, and 5 and in dotted lines also in Fig. 7 the roller-stud 15 being atthe angle of the slot 14, the plunger 19 in its vertical position, thelatch-lever 39 extended in its extreme rearward position, and thethrow-out lever tilted out of contact with the latch-lever 39 and its,lateral stud 48 under the action of the finger 54 of the stop-lever 20.The drawing down of the starting-rod 26 and consequent rocking of thelever 20 with its springpressed plunger 19 releases the stop-cam 23 andshifts the belt from the loose pulley 55 to the fast pulley 56 to startthe main shaft and simultaneously throws the roller-stud 15 into thehorizontal portion of the slot 14 of the cutter-lever 13, thecoupling-tooth 38 into the vertical path of movement of the shoulder 42of the latch-lever 39, and disengages the finger 54 from the arm 52 topermit the side face of the lever 50 to rest against the end of thelateral stud 48 upon the latch-lever 39, whereby the first depression ofthe actuator 36, with the parts carried thereby, causes the depressionof the plunger 19 and consequent actuation of the train of levers of thecutter mechanism to depress the cutter 7. As the latch-lever 39 reachesits lowest position its lateral stud 48 rides over the margin of therecessed cam edge of the throw-out lever 50, as indicated in Fig. 3,thereby permitting the latter under the action of its spring 53 to fallinto contact with the side face of the latch-lever 39, as indicated inFig. -7, in the succeeding upward movement of which the engagement ofthe stud 48 with the cam edge of the throwout lever causes thelatch-lever to be shifted inwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, to withdraw theshoulder 42 from the tooth 38, which permits the plunger 19 under theaction of its spring 22 to perform the remainder of its return toinitial position in the vibrating lever 20 independently of the actuator36 unless the cutter or. any part of its train of actuating mechanismshould stick and effectively resist the action of the spring 22', inwhich case the finger 43'of the latch-lever 39, which projects therefromsufiiciently beyond the shoulder 42, engages the lower side of the tooth38 and positively raises the plunger 19 to return the cutter to normalinoperative position. During the subsequent continued reciprocation ofthe actuator 36 throughout the remainder of the cycle of the machine thepin 48 continues under the action of the spring 44 to engage the camedge of the throw-out lever 44, which.

causes a corresponding vibratory movement of the lever 39, whereby theshoulder 42 operates in a curved path which is not entered by the tooth38, and hence all recipro'cations of the latch-lever 39 after the firstare idle and have no effect upon the cutter mechanism.

As before stated, the operation of the stopmotion device to arrest themotion of the machine at the end of a buttonhole-stitching op-.

the present machine is particularly designed-- it is important-thatmeansbe provided for supporting the goods close to the needle and knifepaths to prevent the rising of the adjacent portion of the material withsuch members in the performance of their usual functions. In Figs. 1,l0. and 11 I have shown such means comprising primary and auxiliarywork-holders. Upon the usual work-clamp slide 75, deriving itslongitudinal feeding and lateral shifting movements from suitableconnections with the feed-cam 32, such as thoseshown in my priorpatentsbefore mentioned, is mounted the upper member of the primarywork-clamp, comprising the clamping plate or lever 57 connectedtherewith by the intermediate blocks 58 and 59 and pivotal pin 60,carrying at its forked forward end theclampingfoot 61, having the usualrectangular opening for operation of the cutting-knife and the needle,the clamping-plate 57 being pressed normally downward upon its seat onthe workclamp slide or the goods interposed between such parts by meansof the spring 63. Fitted loosely between the opposite edges of theclamping-foot 61 is a flat auxiliary presserv plate 64,formed with atransverse slot or openforked extremities of. a fiat presser-bar. 68,

loosely and slidingly pivoted at its opposite end upon a lateralhorizontal pin 69, carried by a rigid supporting-stud 70, attached tothebracket-arm 2, and is normally pressed lightly downward by means of aflat spring 71 whose forward end engages the top of a pin 72 upon theupper side of the presser-bar 68. The auxiliary presser 64 is preventedfrom movement endwise with the primary clamp by reason of its rigidconnection with the stationary pin 69, but is given a correspondinglateral shifting movement upon such pin by means of a rigid armconnected at one end to the block 58 and having at the other end a shoe73, slidingly embracingthe bar 68.

It will thus be seen that the auxiliary workholder or presser 64cooperates with the needle and the knife in stripping the fabric fromeach in their rising movements and in holding the'same fiat during thestitching operation to insure the uniform laying and setting of thestitches throughout the length of the button' hole.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that the presentimprovement is susceptible of wide variation in the constructivefeatures of its component parts without departing from the spirit of thepresent invention. Thus it is unnecessary that the stopmotion plunger bea member common to both the cutting mechanism and stop-motion devices,such feature being used to perform the double function only to insuresimplicity of construction. It is obviously immaterial which member ofthe coupling device be the retractable part and which is carried by theactuator.

Although the present invention is herein disclosed as comprising acutter actuated only once for each actuation of the stop-motion device,and hence for each buttonhole-stitching operation, it is evident thatcertain of its characteristic constructive features are applicable tocutter mechanism involving the so-called trimming-cutter, with means foractuating it successively during a single buttonholestitching operation.

I have not claimed herein the specific form and construction of theauxiliary cloth-presser or work-holder operating in conjunction with theprimary work-holder for the reason that the same forms the subject of aseparate application filed simultaneously herewith, Serial No. 204,160.

Having thus set forth the invention, what I claim herein is 1. In abuttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism and a stop-motion device for controlling theoperation of the same; of cutting mechanism, a reciprocating actuatortherefor operating independently of the stop-motion device, and meanscontrolled by said stop-motion device for coupling said cuttingmechanism with its actuator. 1

- 2. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism and a stop-motion device for controlling theoperation of the same, of cutting mechanism, a reciprocating actuatortherefor continuously operative during the action of said stitch-forming mechanism, and means controlled by said stop motion device forcoupling said cutting mechanism with its actuator.

3. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism and a stop-motion device including a vibratingstop-lever, of cutting mechanism, an actuator therefor operatingindependently of the stop-motion device, and means carried by saidstop-lever for coupling said cutting mechanism with its actuator.

I. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism and a stop-motion device including a vibratingstop-lever, of cutting mechanism, a reciprocating actuator thereforcontinuously operative during the action of said stitch-formingmechanism, and means carried by said stop-lever for coupling saidcutting mechanism with its actuator.

5. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism and a stop-motion device including a vibratingstop-lever, of cutting mechanism, an actuator therefor operatingindependently of the stop-motion device, means carried by saidstop-lever and operative while the latter is inactive in arresting themotion of the machine for coupling said cutting mechanism with itsactuator, and automatically-acting means for uncoupling said cuttingmechanism from its actuator.

6. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism and a stop-motion device comprising a vibratingstop-lever carrying a springpressed plunger and a rotary cam cooperatingwith the latter in arresting the motion of the machine, of cuttingmechanism, a connection between said plunger and cutting mechanism, andmeans acting independently of said cam for operating said plunger toactuate the cutting mechanism.

7. In a buttonhole cutting'and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism and a stop-motion device comprising a vibratingstop-lever carrying a springpressed plunger and a rotary cam cooperatingwith the latter in arresting the motion of the machine, of cuttingmechanism, a connection between said plunger and cutting mechanism, acutter-actuator, a coupling device for connecting said actuator With thestop-motion plunger, and means for disconnecting said actuator andplunger.

8. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism and a stop-motion device, of cut.

ter mechanism, an actuator therefor operating independently of thestop-motion device, means controlled by the stop-motion device forcoupling the cutting mechanism with its actuator, and means independentof said stopmotion device for uncoupling said cutting mechanism andactuator.

9. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism, an actuator therefor, andan intermediate normally inoperative coupling device, of a stop-motiondevice including an operative member the throw of which in one directionproduces the arrest of the motion of the machine, and the throw of thesame in the opposite direction operates the coupling device to connectsaid cutting mechanism with its actuator.

10. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism, an actuator therefor, andan intermediate normally inoperative coupling device, 'of a stop-motiondevice including a vibrating lever and means whereby the throw of saidlever in one direction produces the arrest of the motion of the machineand the throw of said lever in the opposite direction operates thecoupling device to connect said cutting mechanism with its actuator.

11. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism and an actuator therefor, ofa stop-motion device carrying means whereby said cutting mechanism iscoupled with its actuator, and means for preventing successiveactuations of said mechanism in the cycle of the machine.

12. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism, an actuator therefor, andan intermediate coupling device, of a stop-motion device including anoperative member the throw of which in one direction produces the arrestof the motion of the machine, and the throw of the same in the oppositedirection operates the coupling device to connect said cutting mechanismwith its actuator, and means acting independently of said stop-motiondevice for uncoupling said cutting mechanism and actuator.

13. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism and an actuator therefor, ofa stop-motion device comprising a cam and a cooperating member common tosaid cutting mechanism, and means for controlling the position of saidcommon member to cause its alternate action in conjunction with thestop-motion cam and the cutter-actuator.

14. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism and an actuator therefor, ofa vibrating lever carrying a reciprocating member of the cuttingmechanism, a device for coupling together the actuator and saidreciprocating member of the cutting mechanism and comprising tworelatively yielding coupling parts of which one is carried bysaidactuator and the other by said respectively into and out of the normalpath of movement of the other of said coupling parts.

15. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism and an actu- .ator.there-for, of a vibrating lever carrying a reciprocating member of thecutting mechanism, a coupling-tooth carried by said reciprocatingmember, a spring-pressed latch-lever mounted upon said actuator andadapted to engage said coupling-tooth, and means for shifting saidvibrating lever toward and from said actuator to bring saidcoupling-tooth respectivelyinto and out of the normal pathof movement ofsaid latch-lever.

16. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism and a reciprocating actuatorthereof, of a vibrating lever carrying a reciprocating member of thecutting mechanism, a coupling-tooth carried by said reciprocatingmember, a spring-pressed latch-lever mounted upon said actuator andprovided with a shoulder and a projecting finger adapted respectively toengage said coupling-tooth in the movement of said actuator in differentdirections, and means for shifting Y said vibrating lever toward andfrom said actuator to bring said coupling-tooth respectively into andout of the normal path of movement of the latch-lever.

17. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism and a reciprocating actuatortherefor, of a Vibrating lever carrying a reciprocating member of thecutting mechanism, a coupling-tooth carried by said reciprocatingmember, a spring-pressed latch-lever mounted upon said actuator andprovided with a shoulder and a finger projecting beyond the same andadapted respectively to engage said coupling-tooth in the movement ofsaid actuator in different directions, a device for tilting saidlatch-lever sufliciently to disengage its shoulder from saidcoupling-tooth while permitting its finger to remain in the path ofmovement of such coupling-tooth, and means for shifting said vibratinglever toward and from said actuator to bring said coupling-toothrespectively into and out of the normal path of movement of thelatch-lever.

18. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism and acontinuously-reciprocating actuator therefor, of a coupling deviceintermediate said actuator and cutting mechanism comprising a pivotedlatch-lever and a cooperating member, means for causing the componentmembers of said coupling device to assume operative relation,

and a device for tilting said latch-lever out of coupling relation afterthe initial movement ,of said actuator subsequent to the couplingoperation.

19. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism and acontinuouslyreciprocating actuator therefor, of a coupling deviceintermediate said actuator and cutting mechanism comprising a pivotedlatch-lever provided with a lateral stud and a cooperating member, meansfor causing the component members of said coupling device to assumeoperative relation, a throw-out lever having'a cam edge adapted toengage said lateral stud upon the latch-lever, and means for tiltingsaid throw-out lever out of and into the path of movement of said stud.

20. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism and acontinuously-reciprocating actuator therefor, of a pivotedspring-pressed latch-lever carried by said actuator and provided with alateral stud, a coupling tooth carried by a reciprocating member of saidcutting mechanism and adapted to engage said latch-lever, means forthrowing said coupling-tooth into engagement with said latch-lever, alaterally vibrated springpressed throw-out lever adapted to restnormally against the side of said latch-lever and having a cam edgeadapted to engage the lateral stud upon the latter, and means forshifting said throw-out lever out of thepath of movement of said lateralstud.

21. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, cutting mechanism comprising a vibrating levercarrying a reciprocating plunger and a continuously-reciprocatingactuator for said cutting mechanism, of a pivoted spring-pressedlatch-lever carried by said actuator and provided with a lateral stud, acoupling-tooth carried by said reciprocating plunger and adapted, toengage said latch lever when said vibrating lever is thrownrforward,means for vibrating the plunger-carrying lever to bring the saidcoupling-tooth and latchlever into operative relation, a laterally-vibrated spring-pressed throw-out lever adapted to rest normally againstthe side of said latch-lever and having a cam edge adapted to engage thelateral stud upon the latter and a lateral finger, and a projection uponsaid plunger carrying lever whereby its movement backward from saidactuator causes the withdrawal of said throw-out lever from the path ofmovement of the lateral stud upon the latchlever.

IIO

22. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism comprising a reciprocating needle and acooperating loop-taker, a primary longitudinally-movable work-clampincluding an upper member with an elongated opening embracing the pathof the needle in the stitchforming operation, and cutting mechanismcomprising a reciprocating knife operating through said elongatedopening in the primary work-clamp, of means foractuating the cut tingand stitch-forming mechanisms to successively cut and stitch abuttonhole, an auxiliary Work-clamp member provided with a needleopening and a knife slot closely embracing respectively the needle-pathand the knife-path, and means for maintaining said auxiliary work-clampmember longitudinally immovable Within the needle-opening of the primarywork-clamp member and means for normally pressing same upon the Work.

23. In a buttonhole cutting and stitching machine, the combination withstitch-forming mechanism, of cutting mechanism, a spring whereby saidcutting mechanism is normally forced into and maintained in inoperativeposition, a positively-operating actuator for said cutting mechanism anda device for temporarily connecting said cutting mechanism with itsactuator including means for positively insuring the return of thecutting mechanism to initial inoperative position after a cutting actionWhile permitting the normal return movement of the cutting mechanismunder the action of the said spring. 5

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWARD B. ALLEN.

Vitnesses:

ALFRED C. DARLING, HENRY J. MILLER.

